In his speech, deputy chief engineer for electric equipment of AO MOSENERGO Vadim Zinakov stated that repairs and maintenance which were conducted last year helped to avoid serious disruptions in electric grids during this heating season. This can be proved by zero rate of accidents in electric grids in 2002.

In 2002, the number of minor failures decreased by 17%. The number of damaged cable lines decreased by 10%. As a result, the average amount of power which is not supplied to customers as a result of such failures went lower by 43%. The number of accidents became smaller almost at all AO MOSENERGO's branches. Best results were achieved by Kolomna, Mozhaisk and Western electric grids. At other branches accidents took place due to unfavorable weather conditions (intensive snow falls and winds). Many failures took place last year in Shatura and Noginsk grids due to peat fires which peaked in July. They accounted for 47% of failures at aerial electric lines. 19% of failures were caused by trees falling as a result of strong winds. 10% of accidents were caused by large vehicles cutting electric lines. Considerable damage was caused by thieves stealing electric cables. Thieves also often damaged or displaced pylons.

To prevent cutoffs at aerial lines, AO MOSENERGO has developed and carried out a number of special measures. The company replaced wooden pylons with concrete pylons, cut trees along aerial electric lines and intensified the fight against equipment thefts.

In 2002, AO MOSENERGO has repaired or replaced worn-out or obsolete equipment in full. The company repaired 58 high voltage 35-500kV substations in Moscow region. AO MOSENERGO also repaired 261 high voltage transformers (against the planned 185). The company also carried out overhaul of major transformers at substations Pakhra (Podolsk grids), Yasenevo (Western grids), Khvoinaya (Northern grids). At substation Nagornaya, AO MOSENERGO replaced a worn-out high voltage transformer. Overhaul and repairs were carried out as a result of electric and heat testing.

Last year AO MOSENERGO replaced 176 km of worn out lightning wire (in excess of the planned 161 km). The company also replaced more than 26,000 damaged insulators which exceeds the planned amount by 29%. Such scale of operations results from wider use of heat testing which helps to timely detect flawed units. Earlier, the flaws could be detected only after the break of insulators.

In 2002, AO MOSENERGO has overhauled, as planned, 110-220 kV oil switches and 110-500 kV air switches. In total, the company repaired 201 oil switches and 108 aerial switches. AO MOSENERGO has repaired 166 compressors. In 2002, AO MOSENERGO has repaired 24 out of 81 automatic fire extinguishing systems in operation. The company also exceeded the repairs plan for repairing gas switches. Instead of 76 110-220 kV gas switches the company repaired 79 cells.

In 2003, AO MOSENERGO plans to repair 62 high voltage substations, 185 high voltage transformers, 216 oil switches and 127 air switches and 23 automatic fire extinguishing systems. The company plans to repair 69 110-220 kV cells, replace 148 km of damaged lightning wire and 24,000 damaged insulators.

The company's key task in 2003 with regard to repairs is to ensure reliable operation of the system.